Skidmore College labor unions reach standoff after Wednesday election

SARATOGA SPRINGS >> Wednesday’s run-off election between two unions at Skidmore College did not result in a clear winner, again.

In an Aug. 1 election at the college, employees had the choice to vote for one of the two unions or to go unrepresented. None of the options garnered a majority vote, so the National Labor Relations Board conducted Wednesday’s run-off election.

UPSEU Local 1222 received 64 votes, and SEIU Local 200 United received 63. Two additional ballots are still under review.

One of the ballots is from a recently terminated employee who is fighting with SEIU to gain her job back, and the other ballot is from an employee whose name was not on the eligibility list.

David Turner, a spokesman for NLRB who ran Wednesday’s election, said that all three parties involved — the college and both unions — need to submit by the end of next week an explanation of why the two ballots are eligible or not.

If the run-off election results in a tie, Turner said there will not be another election unless there is an objection to the run-off election results because of something “coercive with respect to voters.”

The employees work in dining and facilities services, the post office and stables, and are currently represented by SEIU. The contract between SEIU and the employees expires Nov. 30.